Matt Higginbottom,a right-arm seamer, was nurtured by Derbyshire's youth teams, having played for the Under-15 and Under-17 sides before finding a place in the Second XI for both the Second XI Championship and Trophy, making his senior Derbyshire debut in a two-day match against the touring Australians in July 2010.

His first-class debut came for Leeds/Bradford MCCU in March 2012 and he showed a willingness to put bat to ball on his second appearance - against Yorkshire the following month - when he scored 31 not out and 30 not out batting at No 10, hitting six boundaries in each innings against an experienced attack. He made his List A debut in August 2012 and signed a new contract at the end of the season.

A championship debut followed in 2013 In Derbyshire's victory over Sussex at Hove, and he retained his place in the side's narrow win over Middlesex a week later. Hopes that Derbyshire had discovered a lucky charm were unfounded as they were relegated, but his efforts gained him a summer incremental contract before he was released at the end of the season.